Punching machine



April 27 1926. 1,582,596

A. W. GRABC ruucame MACHINE Filed Oct. 22 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 27, 1926. 1,582,596

A. w. GRABO PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiverzzon Patented Apr. 27, 192%.

tlhllTFsll rem,

ALFRED w. enABo,

PARTNERSHIP COIVIPOSED OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GARDNER (2; COMPANY, A

013 EVERETT 3'. GRANGER, HA'ITIE G. GARDNER, VE-

RONICA FITZGERALD, ALL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND STANLEY J. STEINAU, 0F

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

PUNCHING MACHINE.

Application filed October 22, 1923. Serial No. 670,052.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED 1V. Gnano, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented a. new and useful Tmprorement in Punching Machines, of which the following is a specification.-

My invention relates to a machine for punching holes in plate or sheet material and, more particularly, to the punching s1- multaneously of a relatively large number of holes in such material wherein the holes are disposed in very close relation to each other.

vly primary objects are toprovide improvcment-s in machines of the character above stated whereby the operation of punching the holes, especially where they are very closely spaced apart, may be quickly and accurately performed and without danger of impairing, or distorting, the object in which the holes are to be punched.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, the portion'of the machine for supporting the object to be punched being shown in section. Figure 2 is a plan, sectional, view of the machine, Figs. 1 and 2 showing the machine in normal, inoperating, position. Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view, in elevation, of portion of the die and punch-equipped portion of the machine, the section being taken at the irregular line 3-3 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. l igure 4 is aplan sectional view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 3, this view being taken at the irregular line 4-4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is a section taken at the irregular line 55 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 6 is a brol-ten view, in elevation, of the mechanism for supporting and positioning the object in which the holes are to be punched, the section being taken at the line 6-6 on Fig. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 7 is a plan view of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 6. Figure 8 is a face view of a portion of the object. operated on showing the holes punched therein in the first operation of the machine; and Figure 9, a similar view showing the condition of the object after the second punching operation has been completed.

The machine shown comp-rises a base por tion 10, surmounted by a frame member 11 pivotally supported thereon, as represented at 12, and held in pivotally adjusted position by a clamping bolt 13, all in accordance with the common practice of manufac turing punch-presses. The frame 11 has journaled therein at its upper end, a shaft 14 carrying a fly wheel 15 journaled thereon and driven from any suitable source of power as through the belt 16, there being interposed between the fly wheel 15 and the shaft 14, a clutch member (not shown) controlled by a treadle and operating each time I the treadle is momentarily depressed, to

cause the shaft 14 to make a single revolution only, as commonly provided in punchmg presses.

The punch-operating head of the machine is represented at 17 and is guided, to reciprocate vertically, in guides 18 provided on the frame 11, this head being pivotally connected at its upper end with a pitman 19, the upper end of which terminates in a collar 2O surrounding an eccentric 21 journaled therein and rigid on the shaft 14. The head 17 terminates at its lower end in a block 22, containing series of vertically-extending openings 23 in which the punches, repre sented at 24, for punching the holes in the object, are located, the punches having sliding fit in these openings but being prevented from dropping therefrom, as by slightly expanding their upper ends, there being, above the punches 24, means, hereinafter described, for holding certain of the latter, throughout successive operations of the machine, against upward movement in the block 22 and alternating the holding and releasing of certain of the others of the punches, in successive operations of the machine, to render them alternately operative to perform the punching function. The lower ends of the punches 24, which slide in openings 25 in a guideblock 26 carried by the frame 11, cooperate with a die-block 27 rigid on the frame 11 and containing die-openings 28 of anumber corresponding with the number of the punches 24 and in direct alinement, respectively, with the latter, the punches 24, in performing the punching operation, entering the openings 28 in the block 27.

The machine shown is adapted for the punching, by two punching operations performed in succession, of all of the holes of a plurality of rows of relatively closely grouped holes, such rows constituting all of the holes to be punched in the object, or one only of a plurality of groups thereof each composed of such rows, the first punching operation forming holes of all of therows, but with adjacent holes of each row spaced apart twice the distance of adjacent holes in the finished object, and the second punching operation punching holes in each of said rowsintermediate the holes punched in the first operation. Thus referring to Fig. 8, the first punching operation punches the holes 29,'the punches and the die-openings 28 in the die-block 2'? being so arranged as to cause the holes in adjacent rows thereof to be in staggered relation to each other as shown, the left hand side of the object in this figure representing a corner portion of the object. Referring now to Fig. 9, the next punching operation punches the holes 30 to complete the number of holes desired in each row. Generally stated, the punching of the holes, as stated, is performed by punching the holes as in Fig. 8, and then shifting the object in a direction cross-wise of the rows, a distance equal to the distance between adjacent rows, the last row of punches 24, namely those shown at the extreme left hand side of Fig. 5, being rendered non-operating in the first punching operation and the first row of punches, namely those at the extreme right hand side of Fig. 5, being rendered non-operating in the second punching operation.

The means controlling the operation of the punches 24 comprise a block 31 located in a downwardly opening recess 32 in a member 33 secured to the block 22, to ex tend directly above the latter, the recess 32 extending directly above all of the punches 24 and the block 31 extending directly above all of these punches, and substantially flush with the upper ends of all thereof, except the first and last rows thereof, the block 31, in cooperating with the member 33, serving to prevent rising, in the block 22, of all of those of the punches 24 which are directly opposed by the block 31, whereby these intermediate punches operate to punch holes in the object in each operation of the machine. The member 33 contains downwardly opening grooves 34, 35, 36 and 37, extending cross-wise of the path of movement of the board in the machine, the grooves 34 and 37 being flush with opposite ends of the block 31 and thus directly above the first and last rows of the punches 24, and the upper wall of each of these four grooves inclining beneath it, the rear to the position shown in Fig.

downwardly from the rear, toward the front, of the machine, as represented of the groove 34 in Fig. 3. The groove 34 contains a slide 38, the upper surface of which inclines downwardly and forwardly at the,

same angle as the bottom of the groove 34 in which it operates, and when in forwardly projected position, (Figs. 3 and 4) prevents rise of the first row of punches 24 directly end of this slide being pivoted, as represented at 39, to the forward end of a rod 40, terminating in a collar 41, which surrounds an eccentric 42 rigid on shaft 43, journaled in the frame 11, the eccentric 42 being journaled in this collar. A spring 44, secured at its lower end to the rod 40, and at its upper end to the frame 11, yieldingly draws the rod 40 upwardly. The groove 37 is shown as containing a slide 45, lilze the slide 38 and serving, when in forwardly projected position, to prevent the rise of the last row 24 of the punches directly beneath it, the slide 45 being pivotally connected at 46 with a rod 47 carrying a collar 48, which surrounds an eccentric 49 fixed on tie shaft 43, the eccentric rotating in said collar. The eccentrics 42 and 49 are arranged on the shaft 43 in diametrically opposed positions, whereby the slides 38 and 45 operate simultaneously in opposite direc tions when the shaft 43 is rotated.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the slides 38 and 45 are thus moved into and out of a position in which they prevent the respective rows of punches controlled thereby, from moving upwardly in the head carrying them, and to relieve the rows of punches controlled by the slides 38 and 45, from the weight of these slides when the latter are retracted, the blocl; is provided with plungers 50, which are located at opposite ends of the slides 38 and 45, as shown in Fig. 3, as to those which co-operate with the slide 38, and press upwardly against the op posite ends of the slides, under the action of leaf springs 51 secured to the underside of the block 22 anl engaging, at their free ends, with the under-sides of the plungers 50.

The shaft 43 is shown as driven from the shaft 14, through the medium of a sprocket chain 52, engaging sprockets 53 and 54 on the shafts 14 and 43, respectively, the sprockets 53 and 54 being so proportioned that the shaft 43 rotates at one-half the speed of shaft 14. Thus, upon the first one-half of a revolution of the shaft 14, assuming the machine to be in normal position, the slide 38 is outwardly projected, as shown in Fig. 3, to hold the first row of punches 24 against moving upwardly in this blocl: 22, so that this row of punches operate, together with all of the other punches, except the last row thereof, the slide 45, at this stage in the operation of the machine, being withdrawn 4, thereby perniitting the last row of punches to rise. Upon the next one-half revolution of the shaft 1% in the same direction, the slide 38 is withdrawn and the slide l projected forwardly, whereby the first row of punches 2% become inactive and the last row thereof are caused to operate, the intermediate rows of punches, and backed by the block 81 operating, as in the case of the first one-half revolution of the shaft 14.

It may be here stated that the grooves and 36 are provided to adapt the machine for the punching of holes in each operation covering an area less than those for producing which the machine is set in the accompanying drawings. The grooves 35 and 36 are both adapted to receive the slide 45, which would be changed from the position shown in Figs. 3, e and 5 to a position in which it would extend into either of the slots and 36, the eccentric 49 thereof being adjusted along the shaft 4-3 to the proper alining position with this slide. There the machine would be adjusted, as described for producing holes covering a smaller area than in the case where the slide a5 is used in the groove 37, the block 31 would be replaced by one of such dimensions as would cause it to fit between the slide 38 and the slide d5, whereby all of the rows of punches located beyond the slide would be opposed by the unfilled portion of the recess 32 and thus free to rise in the block 22, thereby rende1= ing them inoperative at all times during this adjustment of the machine.

'lhe machine shown is also provided with means by which the object, represented at 55, may be properly positioned relative to the punching elements for punching the holes, as shown in Fig. 8, and by means of which the object is thereafter automatically shifted to a position in which the holes punched by the second punching operation referred to are produced. The means just referred to, comprise a guide channel 56, the channel 57 thereof being in its upper face, which extends lengthwise of the table portion 58 of the frame 11 and is inset in a groove 59 therein, the channel 57 containing a slide 60, reciprocable therein and extending at its upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of the table 58, the slide 60 being provided on its upper surface with strips 61 and 62, affording stop surfaces 63 and M, respectively, at their corresponding ends. The slide 60 is shown as provided with a depending stud 60 which extends into an elongated slot 65, formed in the members 56 and 58, the lower end of this stud being connected with one end of a coil spring 66, the opposite end of which is connected with the member 58, this spring tending to yieldingly force the slide 60 to the right in Fig. 6. The slide 60 also carries a depending stud 67 which extends into an elongated slot 68 in the members 56 and 58, the lower end of this stud being equipped with a roller 69, which is yieldingly held, at all times, under the action of the spring 06, against an edge of a bar '70 extending crosswise of the slide 60 and confined to recip rocate, in a channel guide-member 71, secured to the under-side of the top member 58, the edge of the bar 70 and against which the roller 69 bears, containing a recess 72 having an inclined end wall 73 which operates as a camming surface. vi hen the bar 70 is in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which. the roller 69 extends into the recess 72, the slide is in fully withdrawn position, (its normal position and the position it occupies during the first punching operation) and when the bar 7() is shifted to the left in Fig. 1, which causes the roller 69 to leave the recess 72 and ride, at the cam surface 73, upon the extreme lateral edge of the bar 70, the slide is, shifted to the left in Figs. 6 and 'Z and against the resistance of the spring 66, a distance equal to the distance between the adjacent rows of holes in the object 55, the latter being correspondingly moved by reason of its engagement with the stop surface 63, or 6 1-, as the case may be. The bar is shown as operated through the medium of a pitman 75, pivotally connected at one end, as indicated at 76, with this bar, and engaging, at its other end, a crank pin 77 carried by the shaft 4:3.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming the machine to be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which position the object-feeding slide 60 is in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the operator places the object 55, in which the holes are to be formed, upon the table portion 58 to a position in which one end of the object, the right hand end in Fig. 1, abuts the stop surface 63 and the rear edge of the object bears against the guide surface 100 on the frame 11. The operator then depresses the treadle above referred to for setting the machine into operation to rotate the shaft 14- a single revolution only, with the result of causing the punches 2a of all of the rows except the last row thereof (the slide 45 being withdrawn (Fig. M), to lower, and in co-operating with the die openings 28 immediately beneath them, punching out the holes in the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the punches rising, and withdrawing from the object 55, during the latter l art of the rotation of the shaft let in making a single revolution. The shaft, in thus rotating, and following the punching operation stated, operates through the sprocket connection with the shaft 48 to partially withdraw the slide 38 from the outwardly projected position, shown in Fig. 3, to a position in which it does not obstruct the upward movement of the row of punches at immediately beneath it, and partially projects the slide ll outwardly. Furthermore, in the movement of the shaft 14*, as stated, and after the holes 29 have been punched, the slide bar 70 is shifted to the left in Fig. 1 to the position in which it at its edge thereof, beyond the recess 72, with the roller (59, thereby forcing the object 55 to the left in Figs. (5 and if a distance equal to the distance between ll'djacent rows of the holes, to position the object for the next punching operation. The operator then again depresses the treadle referred to, which results in the lowering of the punch head and the punching of the holes 30 in alternation with the holes 29 punched by the first operation of the machine, the first row of punches 2% being rendered inoperative, to punch the object, by reason the with drawal of the slide 38, and the last row of punches operating to punch holes by reason of theprojecting of the slide to the position shown of the slide 38 in Fig. 3 in the rotation of the shaft l l as just stated; it being understood that in the machine as shown, a plurality of rows of holes 29 and 30 are formed in the object to extend crosswise thereof, and that the holes of adj cent rows are in line in the direction of the length of the object, or in other words, the lines of holes extend parallel both crosswise and lengthwise of the object, as shown in Fig. 9.

1f the pluralities of rows of holes punched by the machine in the two operations just described constitute one only of a plurality of groups thereof, the operator, after punching this first group of holes by the two successive operations described, repositions the object to engage the stop surface (S4 of the slide 60, and again causes the machine to perform the two successive punching operations for punching this second group of holes, the stop 64 being spaced from the stop 63 such a distance that when the object is positioned against the stop ti l, the first row of holes in the second group thereof above referred to will be spaced from the last row of the holes of the first group, the same distance as that which exists between adjacent rows of the first group, so that all of the rows in the finished board, if desired, will be spaced a uniform distance apart.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that by the use of the machine the punching operation may be quickly and readily effected, even when the holes to be punched extend in very closely related condition, and without danger of impairing the object or objectionably distorting it.

l a hile I have illustrated and described a particular construction ei'nbodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

l Vhat I claim as new, and desire to se- I cure by Letters Patent, is:

l. in a punch-press, the combination of a pli-irality of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and last of said punch elen'ients inoperative alternately in the successive actuations of said punch elements.

2. in a punch press, the combination of av plurality of rows of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and the last rows of said punch elements inoperative alternately in the suc cessive actuations of said punch elements.

In a punch press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, means for shifting the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and last rows of said punch elements inoperative alternately.

4:. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, means operating automatically to shift the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and the last rows of said punch elements inoperative alternately.

5. In a punch press, the combination of a plurality of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, means for shifting the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and last of said punch elements inoperative alternately in the successive actuations of said punch elements.

6. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, means operating automatically to shift the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and the last of said punch elements inoperative alternately in the successive actuations of said punch elements.

7. In a punch press, the combination of a plurality of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, means to shift the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means operating automatically to render the first of said punch elements operative for punching and the last of the punch elements inoperative for punching, during the first actuation of said punch elements, and ren- Cit dering the first of said punch elements inoperative and the last of said punch elements operative, in the next operation of the machine.

8. in a punch-press, the combination of a plurality t punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, means operating automatically to shift the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means operating automatically to render the first of said punch elements operative for punching and the last of the punch elements inoperative tor punching, during the first actuation of said punch elements, and rendering the first of said punch elements inoperative and the last of said punch elements operative, in the next operation of the machine.

9. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, the elements of adjacent rows being in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, and means whereby certain of the rows of said punch elements may be rendered inoperative. 10. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, the elements of adjacent rows being in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render certain of the rows of said punch elements inoperative.

11. in a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, the elements of adjacent rows being in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, and means whereby the first and the last rows of said punch elements may be rendered inoperative.

12. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, the elements of adjacent rows being in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, and means, operating automatically, to render the first and the last rows of said punch elements inoperative alternately in the successive actuations of said punch elements.

13. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, the elements of adjacent rows being in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, means, operating automatically, to shift the object being operated on following the first actuation of said punch elements, and means whereby the first and the last rows of said punch elements may be rendered inoperative alternately.

ll. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, the elements of adjacent rows being in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, means operating automatically to shiftthe object beingoperated on following the first said punch elements,

and means, operating automatically, to render the first and the last rows of said punch elements inoperative alternately.

15. In a puneh-press, the combination of a supporting member, punch elements reciprocable in said member and held against displacement therein toward the object in which the holes are to be punched, means cooperating with certain of said punch elements to render them operative with each punching operation, and means movable into and out of a position for preventing others of said punch elements from moving in said member in a direction away from the object.

1.6. In a punch-press, the combination of a supporting member, punch elements reciprocable in said member and held against displacement therein toward the object in which the holes are to be punched, means cooperating with certain of said punch elements to render them operative with each punching operation, means movable into and out of a position for preventing others of said punch elements from moving in said member in a direction away from the object, and means, operating automatically, for actuating said second-named means.

17. In a punch-press, the combination of a plurality of rows of punch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, the punch elements of adjacent rows thereof being arranged in staggered relation, means operative to shift the object in which the holes are to be punched following the first actuation of said punch elements a distance equal to the distance between adjacent rows of said punch elements, and means operating in timed relation to the operation of said secend-named means for rendering the first and the last rows of said punch elements inoperative alternately.

18. In punch-press, the combination of a plurality of punch elements arranged in rows, with the elements of adjacent rows in staggered relation, means for actuating said punch elements, the first and the last rows of said elements being movable relative to said means in a direction away from the object in which the holes are to be punched, members movable into and out of a position in which said first and last rows of punch elements are held against movement relative to said means in a direction away from said object, means engaging said object and operating, when actuated, to shift said object a distance equal to the distance between adjacent rows of said punch elements, and means tor actuating said members and said second-named means and operating automatically to control the position of said members to cause the first row of said punch elements to be operative for punching and the last row thereof to be inoperative for pun hing during the first operation of said first-menisci means, and tollewing' said first ative, and the last roW thereof operative, for

punching operation to shift said object a distance equal to the distance between adjacent rows of punch elements and render the first row of said punch. elements inoperrows ofpunch elements, means for actuating said punch elements, a support along which 0 the-Work is fed in a predetermined direction and means whereby the front and rear rows of said punch elements may be rendered inpunchlng 1n the next succeeding operation operative alternately. of-said first-named means.

19. In a punch-press, the combination of ALFRED W. GRABO. 

